Focusing-hood for cameras.



No. 721,898. .PATENTBD MAR. 3, 1903.

E. N. LAKE.

FOCUSING Hoon PoR CAMERAS.

. APPLIOATION yHmm Jun'. 2. 1902. xo nonni..

lill 'illu UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDWARD N. LAKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FocuslNG-Hoon FOR CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 721,898, dated March 3, 1903.

f v Application led June 2,1902. Serial No. 109,882. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD N. LAKE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Focusing Hoods for Cameras; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in focusing-hoods for cameras, and is designed to take the place of the ordinary focusingcloth heretofore used by photographers and to obviate the disadvantages arising from the use thereof.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a camera, the upper end of a cameratripod, and my improved focusing-hood applied thereto, showing also the position of the operator while using my improved focusinghood. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one end of the camera and the hood, showing the eyepiece of the hood open. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of the hood, showing the eyepiece substantiallycollapsed. Fig.4isatransverse view through the eyepiece, taken on line 4 et of Fig. 3. As shown in the drawings, the hood consists of a flexible tubular part which is made large enough at one end to lit over the rear end of the camera-box and is provided at its other end with an eyepiece B, which is shaped to it the face of the person using the same. Said eyepiece is provided on its outer margin with a rim or binding B, made of a soft material, such as animal fur or the like, which prevents the passage of light between the face of the operator and said eyepiece when said eyepiece is fitted to the face in the manner shown in Fig. l.

The tubular portion A of the hood is made of iiexible material of a nature to exclude the light from the interior of the tube and is attached by stitching or like means to the eyepiece B. Said eyepiece is made of a more substantial or rigid structure than the tube A, so that the same may be readily handled and fitted to the operators face by the use of one hand when using the device. As herein shown, said eyepiece is made of two like side parts which are adapted to be folded dat one upon the other by means of permanent folds b b at the opposite sides thereof. The said eyepiece, as herein shown, consists of an inner filling or layer of material h2, which is made of a tough fibrous material, such as cardboard, and inner and outer linings b3, preferably made of the same cloth as that constituting the-tube A. Said lining-pieces are joined at their outer margins by stitches and are joined at their inner margins to the outer end margin of the tube by like transverse stitches, thereby confining the inner or stiffening part h2 in place, said stiffening part giving a relative rigidity to the eyepiece. The inner body part of the eyepiece and the linings are each made of single pieces of cloth and cardboard or the like, and said lining-pieces are joined at the fold b by a longitudinal line of stitching. The eyepiece thus constructed when not in use tends to collapse or flatten in the mannerV shown in Figs. 3 and 4.. When it is desired to lit the eyepiece to the face of the' person using the device, said eyepiece is adapted to be spread outwardly by applying pressure to the opposite folds b h of theeyepiece by the use of the fingers and thumb of the hand in the manner shown in Fig. 2. In 0.1- der to accurately lit the eyepiece to the face of the person using the device, the upper and lower parts of the eyepiece are curved inwardly, so that the lateral parts thereof may overlap the face, as shown in Fig. 1, and the ,yielding character of the cushioning-rim B' enables the eyepiece to be pressed iirmly against the face Without discomfort and at the same time effectually excludes the passage of light between the face and the eyepiece.

The larger end of the tube A may be applied in any suitable manner to the cameraas, for instance, by means of an elastic puckering-cord a, conned in a hem in the margin of the larger end of the tube, so that when said end of the tube is placed over the camera the elasticity of the cord acts to hold IOO the tube closely on the camera and prevents the passage of light between the same and the tube.

The use of the device is clearly shown in Fig. 1. By an inspection of said ligure it will be seen that the device may be manipulated by one hand of the user, it being seen that the larger end ofthe tube is held in place on the camera by the puckering-cord or like device and the hand of the user is used to spread the eyepiece and fit the same to the face. The other hand of the user is free to be used about the camera-as, for instance, to focus the camera.

The device is obviously a great improvement over the ordinary ferm of focusing-cloth heretofore employed, as by the use of the same the camera may be conveniently used in outdoor work and in windy Weather,when considerable attention must be given to the camera for properly handling and adjusting the focusing-glass. In the use of theY ordinary focusing-cloth both hands of the user are often required to be used for the purpose alone of holding the focusing-cloth properly in place, thereby rendering the operation of properly focusing the camera inconvenient and at times impracticable.

Another advantage of the device herein shown is that the same may be folded into a very compact compass and carried in the pocket of the user, it being only necessary for this purpose to collapse the eyepiece and Wrap or fold the tubular portion of the device around the eyepiece.

A further advantage of the device is the ease by which the tube A may be applied to a camera, and when aiixed is securely held in place and excludes light from the hood.

Minor features of the construction herein shown may be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to such construction, excepting as hereinafter made the subject of specific claims. For instance, the tube A may be made of bellows-like form and the eyepiece connected thereto in such manner that the device as a whole may be folded into a flat compact form.

I claim as my invention- 1. Afocusing-hood for cameras,comprising a collapsible, light-excluding tube, means at one end of the tube for detachably connecting the tube with a camera, and an eyepiece at the other end of the tube comprising two side members joined at the opposite sides of the eyepiece by longitudinal folds and ilexibly secured at; their ends to the tube, Where-Y by the eyepiece may be folded flat and the hood as a whole folded in a small compass.

2. Afocusin'g-hood for cameras comprising a collapsible light-excluding tube, means at one end of the tube for detachably connect-Y ing the tube with a camera and an eyepiece at the other end of the tube comprising two side members joined at the opposite sides of the eyepiece by two longitudinal folds, said members being made of a resilient material and tending te normally fold flat together, but being adapted to Ybend outwardly when pressure is applied to the eyepiece at the folds thereof to permit the eyepiece to open.

3. A focusing-hood for cameras comprising a collapsible, light-excluding tube adapted to be slipped over the end of a camera-box and provided with Ya draw-cord for detachably securing the tube to said camera-box,and an eyepiece at the other end of the tube comprising two resilient side members joined at the opposite sides of the eyepiece by longitudinal folds and flexibly secured to said tube, whereby the eyepiece may be folded ilat and the hood as a Whole folded in a small compass.

4. A focusing-hood for cameras comprising a collapsible, light-excluding tube, means at one end of the tube for detachably connecting the tube with a camera, and an eyepiece at the other end of the tube comprising two side members joined at the opposite sides of the eyepiece by two longitudinal folds, said members being made of a resilient material and tending to normally fold fiat together, but beingadapted to bend outwardly when pressure is applied to the eyepiece at the folds thereof to permit the eyepiece to open, and the outer end margin of the eyepiece being provided with a yielding or cushioning rim.

5. A focusing-hood for cameras comprising a cloth tube, means for detachably securing one end of the tube to a camera, an eyepiece at the other end of the tube comprising two sides, resilient members joined at the opposite sides of the eyepiece by longitudinal folds, said members being contained within a ilexible sheath which is attached to the adjacent end of the cloth tube.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of May, A. D. 1902.

EDWARD N. LAKE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GERTRUDE BRYCE.

IOO 

